The Good News of What God Has Done

Inquirers are often counselled to give their hearts to Christ, or to consecrate themselves to the Lord, or to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. I would not be over-critical with what is sometimes meant well, but this is not the gospel!

The good news of God’s grace is that God hath given to us eternal life and redemption through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is totally and completely of the Lord. It is not something we do for God or even something we cooperate with God in doing for ourselves; but, from beginning to end, the work of redemption, sanctification, and glorification is God’s gift to us IN CHRIST. We receive Him, we believe Him, we look to Him; and, in so doing, all the blessings of life flow to us in Him.

Having received Christ, having become a partaker of His converting grace, and having received a new nature, we delight in His law and His fellowship. We long to be like Him in conduct, conversation, and attitude. We long to adorn the gospel of His free grace by being gracious and grateful. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1983)

“WHOM”

All error (false faith) is evidenced when a person is trusting in and clinging to a “What.” True, saving faith believes: “WHOM!” The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, “for I know WHOM I have believed!”

Baptism - is a “what.”

Walking down an aisle - is a “what.”

Giving your heart - is a “what.”

Making a decision - is a “what.”

Abstaining from certain foods or drinks - is a “what.”

A certain standard of morality - is a “what.”

But if a sinner ever sees “WHOM!” If a sinner ever sees CHRIST! That sinner will stop looking at every “what” that the law presents to him, and he will cry: “I know WHOM I have believed, and am persuaded that HE IS ABLE to keep that which I have committed unto HIM against that day!” Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

“Endeavoring To Keep The Unity Of The Spirit” –Ephesians 4:3

“Grieve Not The Spirit” –Ephesians 4:30

“Quench Not The Spirit” –I Thessalonians 5:19

At the mouth of these three scriptural witnesses we are commanded and warned concerning the Holy Spirit. The unity of the Holy Spirit is to unite our hearts in faith, worship and love. His work is to “take the things of Christ and shew them unto you;” not only the things of Christ in salvation but the character and example of Christ. His work is to unite the people of God in worship of Christ and knit their hearts together in love to Christ and each other. And so to grieve the Holy Spirit, and in a sense quench the Holy Spirit is to act or speak contrarily to the spirit of worship and unity. If I come with a bitter spirit I will trouble others and therefore grieve the Spirit and may prevent them from worshipping, which is quenching the Spirit.

Pastor Paul E. Mahan

GOD IS ABLE

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform”(Romans 4:20-21).

All believers like Abraham have been fully persuaded and taught by the Holy Spirit that God is able to perform all His pleasure (Eph. 1: 11). God-given faith is altogether persuaded and totally satisfied in the ability of the sovereign God to accomplish all our salvation. David prayed this way, "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57.2). Believers rest in the awesome ability of God, not in any mundane ability of the flesh. We say with the apostle Paul, "We rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). If we would take a close look at the Word of God we can see that God is able to perform all things for us in salvation.

1. HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST (Heb. 7:25)!

The disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ, "Who then can be saved?" He replied, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10: 27). Because of our total ruin in Adam (Rom. 5:12) and because of our sinful condition by nature we are unable to improve our standing before God (Rom. 3: 9-19). But, Jesus Christ became the Surety and Mediator of His people and fully effected and accomplished salvation for them through His blood and righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).

2. HE IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING (Jude 24)!

There are some people who teach that a man can be saved one day and lost the next. But this sort of teaching is foreign to the Word of God. The believer is kept by the power of God (I Peter 1:5). Jesus Christ gives His sheep eternal life and they shall never perish (John 6:37-39; 10:27-30 ).

3. HE IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP (Acts 20.32)!

When the apostle Paul was about to leave a group of believers at Ephesus; he strongly commended them to God, and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up. The Word of God is the children's bread upon which we grow and are nourished with spiritual strength (1 Peter 2.2; 2 Peter 3:18).

4. HE IS ABLE TO SUBDUE ALL UNTO HIMSELF (Phil. 3:21)!